Her Prada Cowboy: McCulloch County Series #1 Read online

  His lips covered hers and he kissed her so deeply and passionately, all Shannon could do was cling to him.

  They spent two hours on the prairie and apart from learning a lot, she enjoyed the special time with him tremendously. They drove over a ridge and Jarrod slammed on the brakes.

  “Bloody hell!”

  “Oh my Lord! Are there any horses in that field, Babe?”

  “Thankfully not!”

  He pulled out his cell phone and phoned his ranch manager, who immediately sent a team, while he phoned the fire brigade.

  Shannon stared at the flames literally running over the prairie, destroying the bushes and grassland. They stood in front of the truck watching the fire raging in the valley below.

  “It is spreading so fast, Jarrod!”

  “Not as fast as usual. The rain we had over the past week means the grass is as dry and is burnin’ slower.”

  At that point the cavalry arrived with the ranch’s own fire truck. Jarrod told her most of the large ranches have their own fire trucks because a whole ranch could burn down by the time the fire brigade arrived.

  They immediately set to work and made a wide fire wall before they started working on the fire. The fire brigade arrived forty minutes later and with their combined efforts, they managed to kill the fire within another hour.

  “I want to go and talk to the fire chief quickly, doll face. Would you mind waitin’ here?”

  She nodded and watched him jogging down the hill and met up with the fire chief. They had a long discussion and she saw him make another phone call immediately thereafter.

  He came jogging back and she was once again amazed that he was not even breathing hard from the uphill jog. The man had an amazing physique and was super fit.

  He hugged her and looked into her eyes. She could see he was worried.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “The chief says the fire was set deliberately.”

  “Arson? Why would someone do that? Who would do that?”

  “Who knows; competitors or someone that wants to give me a setback. The chief is goin’ to look into it.”

  “Let’s hope they find something.”

  “I just don’t feel comfortable with you being pregnant and us alone out here. Would you mind if we postpone tonight until it has been resolved?”

  “Of course, Babe. I agree. I don’t want to take chances with our children.”

  Jarrod was more upset than he cared to admit. He was sure the fire was set by the same person who has been sending him threats. Now he was even more concerned that they also knew about Shannon.

  Reed agreed and said that he has set additional security teams to secure the ranch and the company.

  Jarrod knew this was not the end of it though. They kept the actual launch date secret specifically to safeguard everyone. It would only be made public early on Monday. All the invitations were sent in secret to the companies, under strict instructions of secrecy.

  He prayed there would not be enough time, once the launch was made public, for them to react or boycott the launch. More so, that once the launch was done, he could relax and carry on as normal.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Jarrod, I know you are busy, but may I have a quick word?”

  Jarrod looked up and smiled at his Executive Assistant, Lucy and waved her in.

  “Of course, Lucy. What’s up?”

  “Now you know I am not a tittle tale, but I can’t keep quiet any longer. She just won’t listen to me.”

  “Who?”

  “Shannon. I’ve been trying to get her to slow down the whole morning, but she just does not stop.”

  “Sounds like her.”

  “Jarrod, she has not been off her feet since you arrived this morning! She has been running up and down from her office down to the ballroom a hundred times already! She has not had anything to eat or drink the whole day! It’s not good for someone in her condition. You need to get her to sit down and get something in her stomach! At this rate she will not last until tonight!”

  Jarrod’s mouth flattened.

  The hard headed little witch! She just never listens!

  “Thanks for lettin’ me know, Lucy. I will handle it. I am goin’ to get her somethin’ to eat and then take her to the penthouse. I’ll be back later.”

  She nodded and quickly walked back to her office. Jarrod literally steamrollered to Shannon’s office and was not really surprised when she was not there. One of the project team members informed him that she just went down to the ballroom … again. Also said, with a shake of her head. Everyone has been trying to get her to slow down. He found her bags in her office and carried them with him.

  He mumbled all the way to the boardroom and saw her the moment the elevator doors opened. She was walking around, checking and rechecking everything. He shook his head and walked closer. She turned and saw him. A brilliant smile formed on her mouth and then her eyebrows rose and she chuckled. She nodded towards the handbag he had slung over his shoulder.

  “Are you setting a new fashion trend, Babe?”

  He smiled and pulled her under his arm and turned towards the elevator. She pulled back and tried walking back into the ballroom.

  “No. Our arrangement was that you will only do the final ticks, not run around the whole day doin’ all the work! We are goin’ for a quick bite and then I am takin’ you to the penthouse.”

  “No Babe! I still have to …”

  “This is not debatable, Shannon! I want you by my side tonight. At the rate you are goin’, you won’t make it till three this afternoon!”

  She sighed and caressed his cheek.

  “You are right. I do feel a bit tired. I forget sometimes that I am pregnant. But what if there is still somethi …”

  “Shannon, honey, everythin’ is fine. It has been since last week. Stop worryin’! Now come, let’s go.”

  He took her to a Bistro for something to eat and from there directly to the Penthouse. He walked through the apartment and hugged her at the door.

  “Promise me you will take a nap. I will be back around five and we’ll leave for the launch around six thirty.”

  “Six. I need to just do the final checks before the time.”

  “Very well, honey. Six. Now go … nap!”

  “Yes Jarrod.”

  “Lock the door behind me.”

  Shannon turned the lock and went to the main bedroom. She undressed and put on a pair of sweatpants and a tee-shirt. She sank down on the bed and fell asleep within minutes.

  Shannon opened her eyes with fear clutching her heart. She couldn’t breathe. She started to struggle, she looked up and found two masked men standing over her. One had his gloved hand over her mouth and nose and was suffocating her. The other held a flex cuff which he tried to tie around her hands. She started to struggle violently when she started to feel dizzy. She opened her mouth and bit hard into the gloved hand. He yelled and ripped his hand away from her mouth.

  He drew his hand back and Shannon noticed the fist as he started swinging his hand forward. She covered her belly with both her hands and went completely still.

  “Please! I’m pregnant! Please don’t hurt my baby!”

  The green masked man hesitated and he glowered at her.

  “You bit me bitch!”

  “I couldn’t breathe! You were suffocating me!”

  “Did I hear you right, Chick? You’re pregnant?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  The black masked man straightened and his teeth flashed white in the mouth opening. He ribbed his partner in the stomach.

  “Hear that? She is pregnant. Boss is gonna like that! Now we will have a real hold over JP! A real hold! There is no way he will launch that software tonight!”

  “Come little lady, we’re leavin’.”

  “No! Let me go! I am not going with you!”

  They both laughed harshly and Shannon felt the fear clamp even tighter around her heart. She glanced at the clock on the side table as
they dragged her into the foyer. It was already four o clock. If she could only delay them, Jarrod might get home before they got her out of there. She kicked and bore backwards. The green masked man crashed against the side table and the vase with flowers shattered to the floor. He turned around and shoved the table over.

  He towered over her and glared viciously at her.

  “You have two choices. Either you walk, or we carry you, and I promise you, being pregnant is not goin’ to matter. One way or the other, we are leavin’ now!”

  He held her hands and the black mask man clicked the flex cuff around her wrists. He took her by the elbow and turned her to the door. She noticed that the lock was broken.

  “Are you walkin’ Chick, or do we carry you?”

  “I’ll walk.”

  They rode the elevator down to the parking garage and Mr. Green checked for people around before Mr. Black dragged her out the elevator and into the van Mr. Green brought closer. She could not even scream. They had tied a rag around her face in the elevator. Black bundled her in the back of the closed up van and warned her to keep still.

  She had no idea where they were going. Her sense of direction was poor in normal circumstances. Stuck in the back of a closed van rendered it totally useless. They drove for probably an hour and a half before they brought the van to a stop. Black opened the back door and assisted her to climb out the back. He took the rag from her face and led her to the neat little house next to the van. Shannon looked around, but there was no sign of another house or any human life. They appeared to be on a small holding of some sort.

  “Please tell me, why you are doing this?

  Black and Green looked at each other and laughed.

  “Money, Chick. Lots and lots of money!”

  “Ransom? For me?”

  “Oh no. We’re after lover boy’s new software. It is gonna brin’ us millions!”

  “What makes you think he will give it to you?”

  “Well up to this point, we did not think we would be successful. Now … with you and his baby …we know we are gonna start pocketin’ pretty soon! If he wants you back in one piece and still carryin’ his baby … he will do what we say.”

  They took her to, what she supposed, the main bedroom of the house with an en suite bathroom. It was neat and clean and Shannon sighed in relief. It was decorated in whites and greys and relatively cool. Green dumped a duffel bag next to the door.

  “We brought you some clothes. There are books and magazines in the bedside table and there is cable TV. You should be comfortable.”

  Black walked in with a plate of homemade food and her stomach rumbled. The food smelled terrific.

  “We have an arrangement with the neighbor. She’s a terrific cook. Let me know if you need anythin’ specific … cravings and such.”

  “Apricot jam. I eat apricot jam with everything.”

  “I’ll get some in the mornin’.”

  He left two cans of soda and two large bottles of mineral water on the dresser. He lifted her hands and cut through the flex cuffs. He looked at her and noticed her fear. His wife was pregnant herself and he realized how concerned she was.

  “Try to relax, missy. We’re not aimin’ to hurt you. You will be fine, and just call me when you need anythin’. It’ll be over soon.”

  She nodded and sat on the bed watching him leave and heard him locking the door. It was already after six and Jarrod would know she was missing by now. She sighed and pulled the tray closer and started eating listlessly.

  Oh Jarrod! Please find me! I need you!

  Just stay calm, doll face.

  I’m trying.

  Good girl.

  Jarrod leaned back against the elevator door, a small smile on his lips. It was just past half past four, but knowing Shannon, she was probably already dressed and waiting for him in the den.

  He knew what her dress looked like, so he expected his circuits to be blown to pieces. On top of that, to walk around with a hard-on the whole night long!

  He reached out to insert the key in the lock and froze. The lock was shattered and broken pieces of wood was scattered on the floor. He slammed the door open and ran inside. He skidded to a halt when he noticed the small side table turned upside down and the shattered vase. Flowers were strewn all over the floor. His heart contracted with fear.

  “SHANNON!”

  He tore through the apartment and skidded to a halt back in the den. An inhumane scream echoed through the penthouse.

  Jarrod felt as if his blood has frozen inside his veins. He took his phone out and dialed Reed. He answered almost immediately. He was already at the Perfecto building.

  “Cuz, I’m he …”

  “Get over to the penthouse, Reed. She’s gone. Shannon has been taken! Hurry!”

  “Shit!”

  The line went dead and Jarrod sat down on the edge of the couch, his hands hanging loosely between his legs. He stared at the turned over table and imagined how Shannon must have struggled to cause the heavy table to fall over.

  If they hurt her or our babies, I will kill them! With my bare hands!

  Reed stormed through the door barely ten minutes later and found Jarrod still sitting frozen on the couch, staring at the upturned table. A number of Reed’s team filtered through the door behind him and started to methodically go through the apartment.

  “Jarrod, we will find her!”

  He barely registered Reed and lowered his face in his hands. Reed swallowed. He has never seen his strong cousin so helpless, so totally lost!

  “Jarrod! Have you looked at the CCTV footage?”

  Jarrod looked up and shook his head.

  “Where is it linked up?”

  “Any of the televisions. We can watch here.”

  “No … I don’t think you should …”

  The look Jarrod flashed him closed his mouth and he sighed. He found the remote and switched on the huge wall mounted flat screen television. He found the channel Jarrod told him and routed to the time menu.

  “Since what time has she been here?”

  “Around twelve.”

  Reed started the playback from twelve and they watched her get on the bed and fall asleep. He fast forwarded then rewound when his eye caught the movement on the camera on the outside of the front door. Two masked men exited the elevator and approached the door. It was just before four.

  “Good Lord! I just missed them! If only I came home a half an hour earlier!”

  Jarrod’s hands turned to fists as they followed their path through the apartment until they found Shannon in the main bedroom. His body stiffened when the man with the green masked placed his hand over her mouth and the other grabbed her hands. He saw the fear in her eyes when they opened and he cursed.

  “He is suffocatin’ her!”

  He saw the desperation flash in Shannon’s eyes just before she bit the masked man’s hand. He jumped up when the man pulled his hand back, fisted it and started swinging. He saw Shannon become quiet, folding her hands protectively over her belly and pleaded.

  “Her first thought was to protect our babies.”

  “She is goin’ to be a mother, Jarrod. Of course it would be.”

  He started walking back and forth, still watching the footage and cursed nonstop when he watched her struggle not to leave with them, kicking the table, which toppled the vase. It was the green masked man that toppled the table. Green mask snapped at her and she stilled. She stood demurely while they tied her hands with flex cuffs and walked out the door and into the elevator with them.

  One of Reeds operatives came in with a CD, indicating it was footage from the garage. He obtained the footage from the security of the building. Reed loaded the CD in the CD player and fast forwarded to where they appeared with Shannon. It was a dark blue delivery van. Reed made a note of the license plate registration and snapped at one of his operatives to trace it. He came back within minutes, the van was reported stolen that morning. It had no GPS or tracking system in.


  “Jarrod, I need to get to the field office. I want to see if we can track the van on the traffic cams. If they stayed within the city parameters, we’ll be able to find them.”

  “You have to find her, Reed! You just have to!”

  Jarrod’s phone beeped. He looked at Reed, then at the time. It was seven thirty. It was a video clip from an unknown number. Reed came closer and Jarrod flicked the screen to open the clip. It was a clip of Shannon sleeping on a bed in a small room. He could see the bars on the windows, but at least she appeared unharmed.

  A text message followed immediately after and he flicked it open and read it out loud.

  “Continue with the launch, Mr. Parker and you will never meet your child!”

  He sank down on the couch behind him. Devastation in his eyes. Reed cursed.

  “We will find her, Jarrod. You must just stay positive! We will find her.”

  “You better Reed! If anythin’ had to happen to her … I will never forgive myself!”

  He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. His voice was soft and tired.

  “Please call Chris and tell him to cancel everythin’ for tonight. Let me know as soon as you have gone through the traffic cam footage.”

  “Will do. Jarrod, go and take a shower and eat somethin’. I’ll be back later.”

  When Reed came back three hours later, Jarrod was still sitting in the same position.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “What the bloody hell are they waitin’ for, Reed? It has been three days since they kidnapped Shannon and apart from that video clip and the message, nothin’!”

  “It’s a game they’re playin’, Jarrod. They want to make sure you realize they are serious.”

  Jarrod went back to the ranch and worked himself to exhaustion every day. Still, he could not sleep. All he saw in his mind was Shannon’s fear when she woke up with the masked men holding her down.

  “We know what they want from you, Jarrod and we …”